Earth boring apparatus



Aug. 28', 1934. E. A. SMITH 1,971,922

EARTH BORING APEARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1933 s Sheets-Sheet 1 whim? 54 112 122 2! V ATTORNEY-,5

Aug. 28, 1934.

E. A. SMITH EARTH BORING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M q. W

BY (1, 4 QW QMM ATTORNEYS Aug. 28, 1934-.

E. A. SMITH EARTH BORING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'A'ITORN EY-S Patented Aug. 28, 1934 EARTH BORING APPARATUS Edward A. Smith, Chatham, N. 3., assignor to Raymond Concrete Pile Company, New York,

N. Y., -a corporation of New Jersey Application February 17, 1933, Serial No. 657,156

4 Claims.

This invention pertains to earth boring apparatus of the type in which the drilling tool is supported on the boom of a crane. In machines of that kind the operating headroom above 5 ground level is limited by the height of the outer end of the boom. That fact has served to limit the use-of machines of this type to the drilling of post holes and shallow work of like nature.

In one form of crane-supported drill, the torque generator comprises an electric motor mounted on the upper end of the drill shaft and geared thereto, the torque reaction being taken by a bar, usually telescopic, connected to the crane.

The present invention discloses improvements whereby the depth-limiting drawbacks of the above apparatus are removed by use of telescopic kellys. In one modification the kelly is placed between the motor and the cutting tool and so arranged as to permit utilization of the weight of kelly, motor and gearing as a feed-load on the tool. In this apparatus the motor remains above ground level, the kelly transmits torque from motor to tool, and the torque reaction is taken by a telescopic member interconnecting motor and crane.

In another modification, motor and gearing are connected to the drill by a short torque-transmitting shaft, while the torque reaction is taken by a kelly interconnecting the top of the motor and the head of the boom. In this arrangement the motor follows the drill down into the hole and, as before, the weight of motor, gearing and kelly are available as a drill-load.

Further and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims, and fromthe accompanying drawings, which illustrate what are now considered preferred embodiments of the invention.

, In the drawings:

the motor is above ground level, and the drill,

deep in the hole, is driven by the motor through a telescopic rotary drive shaft vor kelly.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the upper Fig. 4, showing detailsof the arrangement of' motor, gearing, kelly, etc. 5 Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, numeral 10 desig- Fig. 1 shows a form of the invention in whichpart of Fig. 1, showing details of the arrangenates the crane, mounted on creepers 12, and provided with a boom 14 hinged on the crane at 16 and adjustable in position by cable 18 passing around hoisting drum 20. Motor 22 is supported -by the boom through the instrumentality of cable 6 the lower end of the kelly, as will be more fully described. 1

The motor is shown somewhat conventionally in the drawings, the lower end of its hollow shaft 38 having fast thereon a pinion so which drives gear 42 mounted for rotation on vertical shaft to 44. Fast to the hub of gear 42 is a pinion as which drives gear 48, fast on the top of the upper kelly section 50. The above described transmission gearing is enclosed in a housing 52, upon the top of which is mounted motor 22. The lower v5 part of housing 52 is in the form of a sleeve 54 surrounding the upper part of kelly section 56. The kelly section is free to rotate in sleeve 54 but is constrained against vertical movement relative thereto, as will be apparent in Fig. 2. so While the apparatus is in operation the torque reaction is carried to the crane through a telescopic member 56, pivotally connected at one end to the crane at 16 and at the other end to transmission housing 52 at 56.

Current is supplied to the motor through cable 60 and is under control of the operator on the crane by means of controller lever 62.

The kelly is of the type shown in Patent No. 1,895,901, issued January-31, 1933, to H. R. Smith. The lower end of each kelly section has internal keys 64 adapted to rotate the next lower kelly section by contact with splines 66 extending lengthwise of the lower section. Splines 66 are provided with notches into which keys 64 may enter while the parts are in driving relationship, the notches providing shoulders such as 68 (Fig. 2) whereby the weight of the kelly, motor, and other parts mounted thereon may be effective as a feed-load on the drill or boring tool, which is attached to the bottom of the lowest kelly section. The drawings show only two kelly sections, but more sections may be used if desired.

The boring tool '70 is secured by keys 72 to the bottom of the lowest kelly section 74 (Fig. 3). Cable 32 engages the section 74 through ballbearing swivel 76. It will be appreciated that by adjusting the tension in cable 32 the operator may'permit any desired portion of the weight of kelly, motor, and attached parts to rest on the drill.

In operation, after the drill has penetrated to the desired depth it is raised to the surface by means of lines 24 and 32, its load is discharged, and it is lowered into the hole again to resume digging.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the bifurcated upper end of the upper kelly section '78,is attached to the free end of boom 14 by pin 80. The lower end of section '78 is provided with internal keys 82 to contact with external splines 84 in'the next lower kelly section. 86, so that section 86 can telescope into section '78 while maintaining their torque-resisting relationship. The lower end of kelly section 86 is fitted with internal keys 88 (Fig. 5) to engage the notched spline 90 of the lowest kelly section 92, which is attached by key 94 to the upper end of motor 96 (Fig. 5).

Vertical motor shaft 98 has on its lower end a pinion 100 which, through internal gear- 102, pinion 104, and internal gear 106, drives drill '70 by means of shaft 108, to the upper end of which gear 106 is keyed. The above transmission gearing is enclosed by housing 110 bolted to the under side of the motor.

Current is supplied to the motor by cable 112 passing down through the kelly. Hoisting. line 114 is attached to the upper end of the lowest kelly section, as indicated. in Fig. 5 and passes over a head sheave on the boom to a drum on the crane.

In operation of the-modification just described the kelly does notrotate but transmits the torque reaction to the boom of the crane. The weight of the motor, transmission, and all kelly sections except the upper one is available as a drill load.

The drill or bucket may be raised to discharge position by telescoping the kelly with line 114, and raising the boom with line 18.

A hole of unusual depth may be drilled by withdrawing pin 80 to disconnect the kelly from the boom, lowering kelly section 78 until its upper end is at ground level, and then taking the torque reaction on bars inserted through slots 116 in the upper end of the kelly, to engage stakes driven into the ground.

It is-to be understood that the-invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described, but may be used in other ways without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims.

.1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a rotatable tool for digging a hole in the ground, a vertical telescopic drive kelly for rotating said tool, torque generating means mounted above said kelly, and means .for interconnecting the sections of said kelly and said torque generator whereby while said tool is digging, the weight of said torque generator may be transmitted downwardly through said kelly to serve as a feed-load on said tool.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a rotatable tool for digging a hole in the ground, a vertical telescopic drive kelly for rotating said tool, a drive motor mounted above said kelly, said motor having a hollow shaft axially aligned with said kelly, and a hoisting cable attached internally to the lowest section of said kelly and passing upwardly through said hollo'w shaft whereby said sections may be telescoped at the will of the operator.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a rotatable tool for digging a hole in the ground, a vertical telescopic drive kelly for rotating said tool, a tubular drive member surrounding the upper section of said kelly, torque generating means mounted on said member, and means for interconnecting said memberand the sections of said kelly whereby the weight or said generator may be transmitted downwardly through said kelly to serve as a feed-load on said tool.

4. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a rotatable tool for digging a hole in the ground, a vertical telescopic drive kelly for rotating said tool, a tubular drive member surrounding the upper section of saidkelly and 115 vertically adjustable relatively thereto, 'a torque generator mounted on said member, and means for interlocking the kelly sections and said member whereby the weight of saidmember and said generator may be transmitted downwardly 120 through said-kelly to serve as a teed-load on said tool.

EDWARD A. SMITH. 

